Power take-off system and apparatus



y 1,953 A. B. CRICHTON, JR., arm. 2,645,944

7 POWER TAKE=0FF SYSTEM AND APPARATUS Filed April 19, 1948 2 Sheet s-Sheet 1 IN VEN TORS findrgwfi Crz'chion, J5, and 'arZ G. H enn 67521-0711.

I l a22 ,A.- B. CRlCHTON, JR, mm. POWER TAKE-OFF sysmi AND APPARATUS July 21, 1953 Filqd April 19, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Andrewfl Crz'al 2v, Jrand Patented July 21, 1953 POWER. TAKE-OFF SYSTEM APPARATUS j AND Andrew B. Crichton, J r., J ohnstown, Pa., and Carl G. Wennerstrom, Chicago, Ill.; said Wennerstrom assignor to The Crichton Company, Johnstown, Pa., a corporation. of Delaware Application April 19, 1948, Serial N 0. 21,893

7 Claims. (min-15.6)

This invention relates to a power take-off system and apparatus especially applicable, although not limited to, the mining of coal.

It is particularly aimed to provide such a system and apparatus wherein the operating power may be derived from a source already employed in the operation of the mine or equivalent such as a short wall coal cutter even if electrically driven, as all operation is devoid of the electrical hazard. I

A prime object is to transform the power from the take-off shaft at the power source to a high rotating speed which is subsequently reduced to a slower speed, reducing the torque load and rendering it advisable to transmit the power from the take-off shaft by means of a light weight flexible shaft. While this invention is especially applicable to and described with respect to the operation of a drill-head in coal mining, it is to be borne in mind that it is of broader application since, for instance, such flexible shaft instead of operating a drill head may drive one or more of them or be used for general purposes, such as to operate one or more faces or cross-cut conveyors, portable rock dusters, hoists, saws, and the like.

Additionally, we provide a novel take-off assembly or unit which may be quickly and safely attached and detached from the power source, and

which co-acts with the latter to normally hold the assembly casing against backward rotation relative to the power source and which may, nevertheless, be detached through the reverse operation of such source. j.

One more object is to provide means of the lightest weight practicable to carry out the system and apparatus of our invention to minimize checking on the part of the operator and yet enable driving of the auger at different speeds even with a drill head. devoid of a change speed transmission as part thereof.

Various additional objects and advantages will be pointed out and otherwise become apparent as the description proceeds in relation to the accompanying drawings illustrating one operative embodiment by way of example. In said drawingsz Fig. l is a view in side elevation showing parts, necessary in carrying out the novel system; 1

Fig. 2 is a view on an enlarged scale, partly in elevation and partly in section, showing the power take-off unit attached to the power take-01f shaft of the coal cutter;

Fig. 3 is a view of the parts of Fig. 2 showing the same'disconnected, certa n of said parts being 2 in elevation and others in section to disclose details; Y

Fig. 4 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section of the coupling sleeve which is detachable to the take-oil shaft; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the speed increasing take-01f unit or assembly; and

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the latter unit or assembly.

Referring specifically to the drawings wherein like referencecharactersd'esignate like or corresponding parts throughout the views, 9 designates a drill-head which operates a coal cutting auger I 0. Said drill head 9 is relatively light in weight; enabling it to be manually handled, held and con trolled during mining operations. To operate at minimum cost, power equipment which is otherwise necessary tomining is employed. Thus, a short-wall coal cutter I I is oneexample of such a source of power to operate said drill head as by means of a suitable flexible cable I2 and a speed increase take-oil unit or assembly I3 interposed between said flexible cable or shaft I2 and coal cutter I I and supported on the latter. While said drill head 9 may beof any suitable type, for example it is like that disclosed in our co-pending. application, Serial No. 6,236,, filed February 4, 1948, optionally having,'achange speed transmission incorporated therein, and at any rate having provision for rotatingthe auger In at less rapid speedthan the speed ofirotation' of said flexible shaft I2. i

Said Power source or coal cutter I I advances with the face in coal mining and is operated by any suitable power since all parts of the present invention deriving power from such cutter II are mechanical and offer no electrical hazard. Said cutter II includes a suitable power take-off shaft I4 which is rotatable selectively under'usual control in opposite directions. In accordance with the present invention, a sleeve bearing member I5 is fixed in cutter II with one end of take-01f shaft I 4 journalled in the smaller bore portion Itthereof. Also journalled-in bearing'member I5, at a larger bore portion I1, is a coupling sleeve I8 which rotate jwith power take-ofi shaft l4,

preferably being interfitteed'with the latter at abutting ends at I9, and detachably connected by a bolt 20 passing longitudinally through the thicker portion 2| of the sleeve, and threaded at 22 to take-01f shaft I4, and with a head 23 abutting the portion 2I interiorly of the sleeve.

Reverting to speed-increasing unit or ,assembly l3 and more specifically considering Figs. 2 and 3, such unit has a casing fabricated from end walls 24 and 25 and a band wall 26 suitably secured together. In said end walls 24 and 25, suitable ball bearing devices '21 journal an input shaft 28 retained against longitudinal displacement by a cap plate 29 bolted to one end thereof at 30 and overlapping adjacent bearing device 21, and by abutment of a shoulder 3| against the other bearing device 21.

As best shown in Fig. 3, said input shaft 28 projects outwardly beyond end wall 24 and terminates in a screw-threaded portion 32 which detachably engages screw-threads 33 within the coupling sleeve I8. Input shaft 28 also has a relatively large disk-like flange 34 exteriorly of unit I3 adapted to abut an outwardly extending flange 35 on sleeve I8 when the parts are coupled. The joint between input shaft 28 and sleeve I8 is further stabilized by the intimate peripheral fit of an enlarged portion 36 on shaft 28 located between flange 34 and screw-threaded portion 32 with the adjacent wall of the bore of coupling sleeve I8. Said flange 34 may have marginal notches 31 for engagement by a wrench, if desired, for employment in attaching or detaching the speed-increasing take-off unit I3.

A torque device 38 is carried by the speed-increasing take-off unit I3, being for instance of V-shape and having arms 39 projecting beyond the unit I3 and overlapping the coal cutter II so that the casing of unit I3 will be held stationary or against rotation with respect to the driven power take-off parts.

Keyed on input shaft 28 is a gear wheel or pinion 40 enmeshed with a gear wheel or pinion 4I carried by an auxiliary shaft 42 having a free end journalled in a bearing 43 formed on the interior of end wall 24. Said auxiliary shaft 42 is also journalled in a suitable ball-bearing assembly 44 and is attached to and drives the flexible shaft I2. I2, pinion 4|, auxiliary shaft 42, and bearing assembly 44 are a unit enabling unitary application; shaft 42 with pinion 4| in place thereon passing through an opening 45 in end wall 25 oocupied by the bearing assembly 44. A'cover' plate 46 on wall 25 serves to extend the opening 45 or mounting of the bearing assembly 44.

It is to be pointed out that the speed increasing take-off unit I3 will be uncoupled automatically from the power'take-off shaft through unscrewing of threads 32 and 33 through reverse rotation of the power take-off shaft I4, such unit I3 while capable of sliding being incapable of rotation through the employment of torque arms 39. On the contrary, normal rotation of the take-off shaft screws together the threads 32 and 33 to the extent limited by abutment of flanges 34 and 35.

In operation, the coal cutter II drives the power take-off shaft I4 and through coupling I8 drives input shaft 28, the casing of the latter being stationary with respect to the casing of the coal cutter II due to the overlapping contact of torque arms 33 therewith. Said shaft 28 through enmeshed pinions 40 and 4| drives auxiliary shaft 42 and flexible cable or shaft I2 and thereby operates drill head 9 to rotate auger I0; It will be realized that power costs will be minimum since coal cutter II is primarily employed as such and operation of the drill head or power take-off for other purposes is merely an additional function imposed thereon. In accordance with the novel system the ratio of the gearing parts is such that the speed acquired from coal cutter II is first steppe up n t en In fact, said flexible shaft I reduced in order to reduce torque and enable power transmission by means of the light weight flexible shaft with practical use of minimum weight drill heads, or other equipment operable from the flexible shaft.

Various changes may be resorted to, provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as provided by the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. In combination, a tool operating unit having a shaft, a coupling sleeve having an open end to receive the shaft, said sleeve having interior screw-threads, said shaft having screw-threads engageable with the first-mentioned screwthreads, a portion on said shaft inwardly of its screw-threads intimately fitting the bore wall in said sleeve, said shaft having a wrench-engaging flange to contact the adjacent end wall of said sleeve during rotation in one direction, and torque arm means carried by and extending beyond the unit for engagement with a stationary element to prevent rotation of the unit with said sleeve in one direction.

2. A coupling means comprising a bearing member in the form of a sleeve having a bore to journal a portion of a power take-off shaft, said bearing member having a bore portion of greater diameter than the first-mentioned portion, a coupling sleeve journaled in the second-mentioned portion being hollow at one end and having a shoulder at the base of the hollow, an attaching element having a head engaging said shoulder and extending from the same through the sleeve and beyond the inner end thereof to secure the sleeve to the power take-off shaft, a tool-operating unit having a shaft detachably occupying said hollow, and screw means between said shaft and the wall at said hollow.

3. A coupling means comprising a bearing member in the form of a sleeve having a bore to journal a portion of a power take-off shaft, said bearing having a bore portion of greater diameter than the first-mentioned portion, a coupling sleeve journaled in the second-mentioned portion being hollow at one end and having a shoulder at the base thereof, an attaching element having a head engaging said shoulder and extending from the same through the sleeve and beyond the inner end thereof to secure the sleeve to the power take-off shaft, a tool-operating unit having a shaft detachably occupying said hollow, screw means between said shaft and the wall at said hollow, a wrench-engaging flange on said shaft to abut the adjacent end of said sleeve, said shaft between the flange and its screw-threads having a portion intimately fitting the wall in said hollow and torque arm means carried by and extending from the unit to engage a stationary part to prevent rotation of the unit through rotation of the sleeve in one direction.

4. In combination with apparatus having a rotary sha-ft, a casing in detachable relation to said apparatus, an input shaft journaled in said casing, means having a common axis to couple said shafts together for rotation through relative turning of said shafts, means on the casing slidably engageable with the apparatus through said turning movement incidental to the coupling of said shafts to prevent turning of the casing relatively to said shafts, and a power output shaft journaled in said casing.

5. In combination with apparatus having a rotary shaft, a casing, an input shaft journalled in said casing, means to couple said shafts toge er throu h relative turning of said shafts gagement .with said apparatus beyond said face through said predetermined rotation to prevent turning of the casing relatively to said shafts.

6. In combination with apparatus having a rotary shaft, a casing, an input shaft journalled in said casing, means to couple said shafts together through the relative turning of said shafts for rotation one from the other, said means being effective to produce driving engagement of said shafts after a predetermined rotation of one shaft relatively to the other shaft, said input shaft extending beyond one face of the casing, a torque means on said casing extending beyond said face and slidably applicable into engagement with said apparatus beyond said face through the said predetermined rotation to prevent turning of the casing relatively to said shafts, said torque means being disposed adjacent the top of said casing, an output shaft carried by said casing eccentrically to said input shaft, means carried by the casing eccentrically to the input shaft to drive said output shaft faster than said input shaft, and said output shaft extending from the casing through a different face from that mentioned.

7. A coupling sleeve having an open end and means in its bore for detachable driving engagement with a shaft applicable through said end, said means being effective to produce such driving engagement after a predetermined rotation of said sleeve with respect tov said shaft said sleeve having an interior shoulder located inwardly of said means, said sleeve having a central opening extending longitudinally from said shoulder through the other end of the sleeve, an

attaching bolt having a head engageable with said shoulder and a'shank extending through said opening and provided with attaching screwthreads outwardly beyond the opposite end of the sleeve, the latter end of the sleeve having means for end abutment and interfitting with an aligned rotatable shaft.

ANDREW B. CRICHTON, JR.

CARL G. WENNERSTROM.

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